The references section is the most misused part of a CV. It is either skipped entirely or reduced to "References available on request" at the bottom of the page. Neither is ideal. The better approach is to manage references according to the stage of the process you are in.
Should references be on your CV?
For most applications, no. References are usually requested late in the process, just before an offer. Nobody calls your referee during the first screen — that space is far more valuable for describing your experience.
There are three cases where including them helps: the posting explicitly asks for references, your field has a strong referral culture (academia, consulting, healthcare), or your referee is a recognised name in that field. In the last case a reference is not a name, it is a trust signal.
You do not need to write "References available on request." Everyone is assumed to provide references when asked. The line carries no information and costs you a row.
Who should you list?
Your direct manager
The strongest reference is the person who saw your work daily. They can speak in specifics rather than generic praise.
People you delivered projects with
If you cannot reach your manager, a senior colleague from the same project or your counterpart on the client side is a good alternative.
A professor or internship supervisor
If you are a recent graduate or have limited experience, your thesis advisor or internship supervisor is a valid referee.
Never family or close friends
Someone who has not observed you professionally cannot vouch for you. Recruiters spot this immediately and it costs you credibility.
What details to include
A reference entry has four parts: full name, job title, organisation and contact details. Adding one short phrase about your relationship helps the recruiter understand who they are calling.
• Ayse Yilmaz — Software Development Manager, Nova Technology
• My direct manager (2023–2025) · ayse.yilmaz@example.com · +90 5XX XXX XX XX
• Contact details shared with permission and still current
• Two to three references at most
• Just "Ayse Yilmaz — 05XX XXX XX XX" with no title or company
• Contact details shared without telling the person
• An old address at a company they have left
• Six or seven references filling the page
Always ask permission first
This is not just courtesy, it is practical. A referee caught off guard gives cautious, short answers, which turns a positive call into a neutral one. When you ask, mention the role you applied for and which strengths you would like highlighted.
There is also a data protection angle: sharing someone else's phone number and email without consent is a problematic transfer under privacy law. Asking first removes that risk too.
Keep references on a separate page
The cleanest setup is no reference section on the CV, plus a ready-made reference sheet you can send when asked. A single page with your name and contact details in the header and two or three referees in a consistent format is enough.
In AcceptCV you can toggle the References section on and off from the section list; when it is off the section does not appear at all. That lets you manage a version with and without references from a single file.
- Wasting a line on "References available on request"
- Sharing contact details without notifying the referee
- Listing an outdated company email address
- Placing references at the top, before your experience
- Listing three people from the same company back to back
